Well, let us view Hosea 8 beginning with verses 1-4. Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. 2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. 3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
He shall come as an eagle refers to Assyria coming to attack Israel and place the people in captivity. 2 Kings 15:28-29. The people now call out to God, but this call of repentance comes too late since they had refused to give up their idols. Let us reflect here a moment. Does this sound like us today? Would you give up all you have for Jesus? Or, are the material possessions more important than eternal life?
5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
Okay, GOD AIN'T HAPPY!!! Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom and sometimes it stands for the whole kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam 1 had set up worship of calf idols in Bethel and Dan and encouraged the people to worship them. (1 Kings 12:25-33)
Sooooo, what is happening here? The people are worshiping the CREATED, and not, repeat NOT THE CREATOR! The people go to an image that is created by man, told to worship this idol created by man, and then this takes the place of the living GOD. W H Y ?
Power and social position was important to Jeroboam and this verse from 1 Kings tells us: 27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Yes, he was afraid the people would turn back to the LORD, away from him, and then he would be killed. NO! He wanted his power and prestige. As my New York friend would say, WHOA! This sounds like many today. Yes, you and me - we like the position we are in BUT we have to be cautious that what we have does not become our idols. Tell me what you think. Love you all.
In Christ's Love and Grace
Johnny
No comments:
Post a Comment